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119-s-4006119th CongressWALLET

Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

Introduced

Summary

Adds survivor status as a protected characteristic in federal housing law. It would tie definitions to the Violence Against Women Act and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and extend related protections into Title IX enforcement.

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  • Survivors and families: Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe trafficking would be explicitly protected from housing discrimination and intimidation based on survivor status.
  • Housing programs and providers: Public housing, shelters, and private landlords could design and run assistance or preference programs for survivors and must treat survivor status like other protected traits.
  • Enforcement and remedies: Housing and Title IX enforcement would recognize coercion and survivor status, and survivors would retain the right to bring other discrimination claims.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More housing rights for survivors

If enacted, the bill would add survivor status (people who experienced or are perceived to have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe trafficking) as a protected class for housing. It would add clear definitions using existing VAWA and TVPA language, including dating violence, stalking, and coercion. The bill would let federal, state, and local housing programs design help just for survivors and allow related notices, shelters, and placements. It would also make clear survivors can still bring other Fair Housing Act claims, like claims about gender stereotypes.

More protections for student survivors

If enacted, the bill would add the Fair Housing Act definitions for domestic violence, sexual assault, severe trafficking, coercion, and survivor into Title IX. It would add 'coercion' to Title IX's intimidation language and bar intimidation based on survivor status at schools that get federal money. Students who are survivors would gain those clearer protections in educational settings.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

NH • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/5/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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